Coordinative control method for the back and knee bottom sections of a bed or the like

ABSTRACT

A coordinative control method for the back and knee bottom sections of a bed or the like, characterized in that when the back bottom section and the knee bottom section are operated in a coordinative manner, the back bottom section or the knee bottom section is actuated for adaptation to ensure that an action can be carried out based on a preset action pattern starting from the present state of positions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a coordinative control methodfor the back and knee bottom sections of a bed or the like, for example,having back and knee lifting functions, for adaptation from the presentstate of positions of the bottom sections of the bed or the like, to apredetermined action of the back and knee bottom sections in acoordinative manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In recent years, among beds and the like such as medical beds andgeneral (long term care) beds, many beds allowing positional adjustmentof its bottom sections (allowing its bottom sections to be lifted forback lifting, knee lifting, etc.) are commercially available, and theyare designed to act for back lifting and lowering and knee lifting andlowering based on various action patterns.

Problem of the Prior Art

[0003] When the positions of bottom sections of a bed are adjusted, theadjustment does not always start from the initial state where the bottomsections lie flat. Actually it is often practiced to start adjustmentfrom a state where the back bottom section and the knee bottom sectionare adjusted at certain positions, for achieving a desired state ofpositions. So, for letting the back bottom section and the knee bottomsection act according to a predetermined action pattern starting fromsaid adjusted positions, it is necessary to quickly adapt their adjustedpositions to the action pattern.

[0004] This invention is proposed to solve the problem. The object ofthis invention is to provide a coordinative control method for the backand knee bottom sections of a bed or the like having back lifting andknee lifting functions, for letting the back and knee bottom sectionscarry out a predetermined action in a coordinative manner from anyarbitrarily lifted and lowered positions of the bottom sections.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned problem, in this invention, claim 1discloses a coordinative control method for the back and knee bottomsections of a bed or the like, characterized in that when the backbottom section and the knee bottom section are operated in acoordinative manner, the back bottom section or the knee bottom sectionis actuated for adaptation to ensure that an action can be carried outbased on a preset action pattern starting from the present state ofpositions.

[0006] Furthermore, in this invention, claim 2 discloses a coordinativecontrol method for the back and knee bottom sections of a bed or thelike, characterized in that when the back bottom section and the kneebottom section are operated in a coordinative manner starting from thepresent state of positions of the bottom of the bed or the like, theknee bottom section is controlled to form the knee lifting angle of theknee bottom section corresponding to the back lifting angle of a presetaction pattern, for adaptation to said action pattern.

[0007] Still furthermore, in this invention, claim 3 discloses acoordinative control method for the back and knee bottom sections of abed or the like, characterized in that when the back bottom section andthe knee bottom section are operated in a coordinative manner startingfrom the present state of positions of the bottom of the bed or thelike, the back bottom section and the knee bottom section are controlledto aim at the nearest action change point of the knee bottom section ona preset action pattern, in order to let the bottom sections act basedon said action pattern.

[0008] In this invention, the bed or the like includes a hospital bed,stretcher, ICU bed or a long term care bed.

[0009] According to claim 1, irrespective of the present state ofpositions of the bottom sections, a desired adjusted state can beachieved.

[0010] According to claim 2, the back bottom section and the knee bottomsection can be quickly brought to the positions corresponding to apredetermined action pattern, and the bottom sections can be adjusted todesired positions according to the action pattern.

[0011] According to claim 3, a position control map can be simple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a typical side view showing an example of the long termcare bed to which the coordinative control method for the back and kneebottom sections of a bed or the like of this invention is applied

[0013]FIG. 2 is a position control map for illustrating a method ofadapting to a back lifting action pattern in the coordinative controlmethod for the back and knee bottom sections of a bed or the like ofthis invention.

[0014]FIG. 3 is a side view of bottom sections for illustrating kneelifting

[0015]FIG. 4 is a side view of bottom sections for illustrating backlifting started together with knee lifting

[0016]FIG. 5 is a side view of bottom sections for illustrating thecontinuation of back lifting, with knee lifting stopped

[0017]FIG. 6 is a side view of bottom sections for illustrating thecontinuation of back lifting, with knee lifting started

[0018]FIG. 7 is a side view of bottom sections illustrating completionof back lifting

[0019]FIG. 8 is a position control map for illustrating the adaptationto a back lifting action pattern, in the coordinative control method forthe back and knee bottom sections of a bed or the like of this invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] For the coordinative control method for the back and knee bottomsections of a bed or the like of this invention, one embodiment isdescribed based on the attached drawings.

[0021] The bottom 1 of a bed apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is divided into aback bottom section 1 a corresponding to the back, a knee bottom section1 b corresponding to the region from the waist to the knees and the legbottom section 1 c corresponding to the legs, and though notillustrated, a back lifting link as a back lifting mechanism abuts theback side of said back bottom section 1 a, while a knee lifting link asa knee lifting mechanism is attached to the back side of the knee bottomsection 1 b for lifting and lowering the knee bottom section 1 b and theleg bottom section 1 c in a coordinative manner. The back lifting linkand the knee lifting link are respectively connected to drive means (notillustrated), for allowing back lifting and knee lifting.

[0022] For each of said drive means, for example, an electric directlyacting drive mechanism (not illustrated) can be applied. Remote controlswitches or control switches (not illustrated) on a control panel to beoperated by an attendant, nurse or the like are operated to give controlcommands for back lifting, knee lifting and gatch action (concurrentback lifting and knee lifting), so that electric power is supplied froma controller mounted on a control box installed at a frame or the likeof the bed, to start the respective directly acting drive mechanisms,for adjusting to desired positions.

[0023] Said controller starts and stops the supply of electric power tothe directly acting drive mechanisms such as motors for actuating theback lifting mechanism and the knee lifting mechanism based on thesignals given from said remote control switches or the control switchesof the control panel, and has, for example, a back lifting actioncontrol procedure of the action pattern shown by a thick solid like inFIG. 2 preset in it. The motors as the directly acting drive mechanismsfor actuating said back lifting mechanism and knee lifting mechanism isprovided, for example, with rotation quantity detecting means as meansfor obtaining the position information of the back bottom section 1 aand the knee bottom section 1 b.

[0024] Control commands are given to carry out a back lifting actionprocedure as follows: (i) knee lifting started (knee lifting motorturned on for normal rotation), (ii) back lifting started (back liftingmotor turned on for normal rotation) after lapse of time t (knee liftingangle 15 degrees), (iii) knee lifting stopped (knee lifting motor turnedoff) after lapse of predetermined time (T), with knee lifting angle 30degrees and back lifting angle 15 degrees, (iv) back lifting continuedtill reaching back lifting angle 40 degrees, (v) knee lowering startedand continued till reaching knee lifting angle 15 degrees (knee liftingmotor turned on for reverse rotation), back lifting continued (backlifting angle 55 degrees), (vi) back lifting continued (back liftingangle 60 degrees), (vii) knee lowering continued (knee lifting angleabout 0 degree), back lifting continued till reaching back lifting angleabout 78 degrees, (viii) back lifting stopped (back lifting motor turnedoff), knee lowering completed (knee lifting motor turned off)

[0025] For carrying out the above-mentioned back lifting actionprocedure, said controller receives the signals detected by the rotationquantity detecting means provided in the motors used as the directlyacting drive mechanism for actuating the back lifting mechanism and theknee lifting mechanism, as the position information of the back bottomsection 1 a and the knee bottom section 1 b at the time of starting.

[0026] In response to the position information of bottom sections at thetime of starting, the knee lifting motor or the back lifting motor iscontrolled for adjusting the knee lifting angle or the back liftingangle for adaptation to the aforesaid action pattern.

[0027] That is:

[0028] (1) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees while the backlifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees at the time of starting, then kneelifting is started (the knee lifting motor is turned on for normalrotation).

[0029] (2) If the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees at the time of starting, and the backlifting angle is larger than the knee lifting angle of the actionpattern, then knee lifting is started (the knee lifting motor is turnedon for normal rotation).

[0030] (3) If the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees at the time of starting, and the backlifting angle is smaller than the knee lifting angle of the actionpattern, then back lifting is started (the back lifting motor is turnedon for normal rotation).

[0031] (4) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 15 to 40 degrees at the time of starting, then kneelifting is started (the knee lifting motor is turned on for normalrotation).

[0032] (5) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees while the backlifting angle is 40 to 65 degrees at the time of starting, then backlifting is started (the back lifting motor is turned on for normalrotation).

[0033] (6) If the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 40 to 55 degrees at the time of starting, and the backlifting angle is smaller than the knee lifting angle of the actionpattern, then back lifting is started (the back lifting motor is turnedon for normal rotation).

[0034] (7) If the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 40 to 55 degrees at the time of starting, and the backlifting angle is larger than the knee lifting angle of the actionpattern, then knee lowering is started (the knee lifting motor is turnedon for reverse rotation).

[0035] (8) If the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 55 to 78 degrees, then knee lowering is started (theknee lifting motor is turned on for reverse rotation).

[0036] (9) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 20 degrees while the backlifting angle is 65 to 78 degrees, and the back lifting angle is largerthan the knee lifting angle of the action pattern, then back lifting isstarted (the back lifting motor is turned on for normal rotation).

[0037] (10) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 20 degrees while the backlifting angle is 65 to 78 degrees, and the back lifting angle is smallerthan the knee lifting angle of the action pattern, then knee lowering isstarted (the knee lifting motor is turned on for reverse rotation).

[0038] In the above-mentioned coordinative control method for the backand knee bottom sections of a bed or the like, the action is describedbelow based on the setting procedure.

[0039] Since the knee lifting angle at which the lying person feels apressure is different from person to person, the knee lifting angle ispreset using a remote control switch or a knee lifting angle settingswitch on the control panel.

[0040] For example, receiving a back lifting start command, thecontroller can receive the signals detected by the rotation quantitydetecting means installed in the motors used as the directly actingdrive mechanisms for actuating the back lifting mechanism and the kneelifting mechanism, as the position information of the back bottomsection 1 a and the knee bottom section 1 b at the time of starting.Then, from the state of the bottom sections at the time of starting, theadaptation procedure shown in any one of (1) through (10) is carriedout, and back lifting is carried out according to the action pattern of(i) through (viii).

[0041] If the position information shows that the bottom 1 is in a flatstate as shown in FIG. 1, the controller can carry out back liftingaccording to the action pattern of (i) through (viii) without carryingout any adaptation procedure.

[0042] Furthermore, if the position information shows that the bottom isin a state as shown in FIG. 3 or 4, and “(1) if the knee lifting angleis 0 to 15 degrees while the back lifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees atthe time of starting, then knee lifting is started (the knee liftingmotor is turned on for normal rotation),” or “(2) if the knee liftingangle is 15 to 30 degrees while the back lifting angle is 0 to 15degrees at the time of starting, and the back lifting angle is largerthan the knee lifting angle of the action pattern, then knee lifting isstarted (the knee lifting motor is turned on for normal rotation),” or“(3) if the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees at the time of starting, and the backlifting angle is smaller than the knee lifting angle of the actionpattern, then back lifting is started (the back lifting motor is turnedon for normal rotation),” for adapting the knee lifting angle and theback lifting angle to the action pattern, and subsequently back liftingcan be carried out according to the action pattern of (ii) through(viii).

[0043] Furthermore, if the position information shows that the bottom 1is in a state as shown in FIG. 5, and “(4) if the knee lifting angle is0 to 30 degrees while the back lifting angle is 15 to 40 degrees at thetime of starting, then knee lifting is started (the knee lifting motoris turned on for normal rotation),” for adapting the knee lifting andthe back lifting angle to the action pattern, and subsequently backlifting is carried out according to the action pattern of (iv) through(viii).

[0044] Still furthermore, if the position information shows that thebottom 1 is in a state as shown in FIG. 6, and “(5) if the knee liftingangle is 0 to 15 degrees while the back lifting angle is 40 to 65degrees at the time of starting, then back lifting is started (the backlifting motor is turned on for normal rotation), for adapting the kneelifting angle and the back lifting angle to the action pattern, andsubsequently, the action is carried out according to (vii) knee loweringcontinued (knee lifting angle about 0 degree), back lifting continuedtill reaching back lifting angle about 78 degrees, and (viii) backlifting stopped (back lifting motor turned off), knee lowering completed(knee lifting motor turned off).

[0045] Still furthermore, “(6) if the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30degrees and the back lifting angle is 40 to 55 degrees at the time ofstarting, and the back lifting angle is smaller than the knee liftingangle of the action pattern, then back lifting is started (the backlifting motor is turned on for normal rotation),” or “(7) if the kneelifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the back lifting angle is 40 to55 degrees at the time of starting, and the back lifting angle is largerthan the knee lifting angle of the action pattern, then knee lowering isstarted (the knee lifting motor is turned on for reverse rotation),” andsubsequently back lifting can be carried out according to the actionpattern of (v) through (viii).

[0046] Still furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7 “(8) if the knee liftingangle is 15 to 30 degrees while the back lifting angle is 55 to 78degrees, then knee lowering is started (the knee lifting motor is turnedon for reverse rotation),” or “(9) if the knee lifting angle is 0 to 20degrees while the back lifting angle is 65 to 78 degrees, and the backlifting angle is larger than the knee lifting angle of the actionpattern, then back lifting is started (the back lifting motor is turnedon for normal rotation),” or “(10) if the knee lifting angle is 0 to 20degrees while the back lifting angle is 65 to 78 degrees, and the backlifting angle is smaller than the knee lifting angle of the actionpattern, then knee lowering is started (knee lifting motor is turned onfor reverse rotation),” for adaptation to the action pattern, and backlifting can be completed.

[0047] As described above, if any of the above-mentioned adaptationprocedures applicable to each case is used, the back bottom section 1 aand the knee bottom section 1 b can be quickly brought to the positionscorresponding to a predetermined action pattern, and the bottom 1 can beadjusted to a desired back lifting position according to the actionpattern.

[0048] Furthermore, in this invention, in response to the positioninformation of the bottom 1 at the time of starting, the knee liftingmotor and the back lifting motor can be controlled to achieve the kneelifting angle or the back lifting angle corresponding to the actionpattern for back lifting.

[0049] That is, as shown in FIG. 8, from the position information of thebottom 1 at the time of starting, the back bottom section 1 a and theknee bottom section 1 b can be controlled to aim at the nearest actionconversion point of the knee bottom section 1 b on the action pattern.

[0050] The controller is preset to control the knee lifting motor andthe back lifting motor, to achieve the knee lifting angle or the backlifting angle corresponding to the aforesaid action pattern as describedbelow in response to the position information of the bottom sections atthe time of starting.

[0051] That is:

[0052] (1) If the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees at the time of starting, and the backlifting angle is smaller than that of the action pattern, then the kneelifting motor and the back lifting motor are adequately controlled toaim at the action change point a (knee lifting angle 30 degrees, backlifting angle 15 degrees).

[0053] (2) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 0 to 40 degrees, and the back lifting angle is largerthan that of the action pattern, then the knee lifting motor and theback lifting motor can be adequately controlled to aim at the actionchange point β (knee lifting angle 30 degrees, back lifting angle 40degrees).

[0054] (3) If the knee lifting angle is 15 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 40 to 55 degrees, and the back lifting angle is smallerthan that of the action pattern, then the knee lifting motor and theback lifting motor are adequately controlled to aim at the action changepoint γ (knee lifting angle 30 degrees, back lifting angle 40 degrees).

[0055] (4) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees while the backlifting angle is 40 to 65 degrees, then the knee lifting motor and theback lifting motor are adequately controlled to aim at the action changepoint δ (knee lifting angle 15 degrees, back lifting angle 65 degrees).

[0056] (5) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 30 degrees while the backlifting angle is 40 to 78 degrees, and the back lifting angle is largerthan the knee lifting angle of the action pattern, then the knee liftingmotor and the back lifting motor are adequately controlled to aim at theaction change point ε (knee lifting angle 0 degree, back lifting angle78 degrees).

[0057] (6) If the knee lifting angle is 0 to 15 degrees while the backlifting angle is 65 to 78 degrees, and the back lifting angle is smallerthan that of the action pattern, the action change point ε (knee liftingangle 0 degree, back lifting angle 78 degrees) is aimed at.

[0058] As described above, if a back lifting operation command isissued, the back bottom section 1 a or the knee bottom section 1 b iscontrolled from the present state of the bottom 1 to aim at any of thenearest action change points α to ε on the action pattern, to ensurethat the back lifting action can be carried out according to the actionpattern of (i) through (viii). So, the adaptation procedure (software)can be more simplified, and the position control map can be simpler.

[0059] The coordinative control method for the back and knee bottomsections of a bed or the like of this invention has been described basedon an action pattern for back lifting. However, also in the case ofgatch action, the present state of the bottom can be adapted to anaction pattern for gatch action.

Industrial applicability

[0060] As described above, this invention can exhibit the followingeffects.

[0061] (1) Irrespective of the present positions of bottom sections,they can be adjusted to desired positions.

[0062] (2) The back bottom section and the knee bottom section can bequickly brought to the positions corresponding to a predetermined actionpattern, and the bottom sections can be adjusted to desired positionsaccording to the action pattern.

[0063] (3) If a method of adjusting the back and knee bottom sectionsaiming at the nearest action change point of a preset action pattern,the adaptation procedure can be simplified, and the position control mapcan be simplified.

1. A coordinative control method for the back and knee bottom sectionsof a bed or the like, characterized in that when the back bottom sectionand the knee bottom section are operated in a coordinative manner, theback bottom section or the knee bottom section is actuated foradaptation to ensure that an action can be carried out based on a presetaction pattern starting from the present state of positions.
 2. Acoordinative control method for the back and knee bottom sections of abed or the like, characterized in that when the back bottom section andthe knee bottom section are operated in a coordinative manner startingfrom the present state of positions of the bottom of the bed or thelike, the knee bottom section is controlled to form the knee liftingangle of the knee bottom section corresponding to the back lifting angleof a preset action pattern, for adaptation to said action pattern. 3 Acoordinative control method for the back and knee bottom sections of abed or the like, characterized in that when the back bottom section andthe knee bottom section are operated in a coordinative manner startingfrom the present state of positions of the bottom of the bed or thelike, the back bottom section and the knee bottom section are controlledto aim at the nearest action change point of the knee bottom section ona preset action pattern, in order to let the bottom sections act basedon said action pattern.